Method and means for creating artificial gravity in spacecraft

ABSTRACT

Prolonged weightlessness in space congests the body organs of astronauts and is detrimental to the health thereof; while the discipline of physiotherapy teaches that electrostatic treatments decongest the body organs of human beings. An electrostatic generator at the underside of a floor in a space vehicle produces electrostatic energy which radiates from the topside thereof to attract astronauts in their footwear and clothing, and their implements, to the topside of the floor in simulation of natural gravity. The electrostatically-induced artificial gravity tends to minimize and offset the natural gravity differential effects on bodies in or on a space vehicle. An oppositely-turning rotor counters the torque reaction produced by a rotor forming part of the electrostatic generator. The oppositely-turning rotor also generates electric energy for useful purposes.

United States Patent Fuchs [451 July 1 l, 1972 54] METHOD AND MEANS FORCREATING 3,534,926 10/1970 Wuenscher ..244/| ss ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY INSPACECRAFT Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Jefi'reyL. Forman [72] Inventor: Harry B. Fuchs, 242 Prospect 4 St.,

Farmingdale, NY. 11735 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: l 1969 Prolongedweightlessness in space congests the body organs of [2}] AppL 854,558astronauts and is detrimental to the health thereof; vvhile thediscipline of physiotherapy teaches that electrostatic treatmentsdecongest the body organs of human beings. An elec- [52] US. Cl. ..244/lSC m; generator at the underside f a fl in a space vehi I [51] It'll. Cl..B64g 1/00 cle produces dectrostatic energy which radiates from the[58] Field of Search ..244/ 1 SS, 62; 310/5, 6, 7, side thereof toattract astronams in their footwear and 310/262 262 E; 60/202; 55/103clothing, and their implements, to the topside of the floor insimulation of natural gravity. The electrostatically-induced ar- [56]References Cited tificial gravity tends to minimize and offset thenatural gravity UNITED STATES PATENTS differential effects on bodies inor on a space vehicle. An oppositely-tuming rotor counters the torquereaction produced SIICkel 7 X a rotor forming part f the electrostaticgene aton The o 3'047'748 7/1962 Landsvel'k positely-turning rotor alsogenerates electric energy for useful 3,095, l 67 6/1963 Dudley ..244/62purposes 3,424,401 1/1969 Maurer ..244/l SA 3,246,239 4/1966 Olney ..310/7 X 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUL 1 1 1972 IN VENTOR.

N fol METHOD AND MEANS FOR CREATING ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY IN SPACECRAFT Myinvention relates to method and means for creating artificial gravity inspacecraft such as space vehicles, transports, space stations andsimilar embodiments whereby the astronaut occupants thereof areattracted to and can walk on the floors of said embodiments withoutfloating in a state of diminished natural gravity or weightlessness asheretofore, and it relates further to an improved method and means forcountering torque reaction simultaneously with the generation ofartificial gravity and the generation of electric energy byoppositely-turning co-axial rotors.

Diminished gravity and weightlessness are detrimental to the health ofastronauts, particularly for long journeys in outer space. In such anambient medium the hearts of astronauts are not required to pump as hardto circulate their blood as in the earth gravitational medium; and theirreflexes are not called upon to help pump their blood back to theirhearts against the force of gravity. Another significant effect oftraveling and living in such an ambient medium is a deterioration in thecondition of heart and blood vessels for which the medical term iscardiovascular deconditioning.

Proposals have been made to provide artificial gravity in a spacestation by setting it spinning on its axis whereby centrifugal forcewould then give an outward gravity, and the down force comparable withearth gravity would be outward. That is impractical as the effect ofcentrifugal force'acting along the length of a human body from head tofeet is to draw the blood away from the eyes and brain, thereby causingblackouts.

Therefore, the prime object of my invention is to provide, particularlyin an ambient medium of diminished gravity or weightlessness, anenclosure cabin complex for spacecraft wherein the floor, or otherparts, of the enclosure or cabin complex radiates electrostatic energyto attract ambulatory entities and objects thereto in simulation ofnatural gravity.

Another object of my invention is to provide oppositelyturning co-axialrotors, one rotor being adapted to radiate attracting electrostaticenergy for producing artificial gravity, indicated hereinbefore, tosimulate natural gravity, and the other rotor being adapted to generateelectric energy for useful purposes, both rotors being adapted tosimultaneously counter torque reaction.

A further object of my invention is to providegravitationally-stabilized orbiting space stations to deter FOBs. Suchspace stations can be assembled in orbit from sections launched byrockets to provide gravitationallystable launching platforms where Earthgravity is already much diminished and the escape velocity reduced, andwhere spacecraft too big to take off from the Earth under their ownpower could be carried up to the space stations for assembly thereat andlaunching therefrom.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the ensuingspecification and attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an enclosure or cabin complexembodiment of my invention, forming part of a spacecraft, wherein afirst rotor at the underside of a cabin floor generates electrostaticenergy at the topside thereof to attract objects and entities thereto insimulation of natural gravity, and a second oppositely-tuming co-axialrotor is adapted to generate electricity for useful purposes, such forexample as propulsion of the spacecraft by reacting to the polarities ofan electric force field surrounding the spacecraft, the said rotors alsoperforming the additional function of countering the torque reaction ofthe spacecraft.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a rotor, indicated in FIG. 1,having spaced friction pads secured to a side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an electrostaticallyattractablefabrication adapted to be fastened to the footwear, clothing, uniformsor equipment of astronauts whereby the astronauts will be attracted tothe floor of the cabin indicated in FIG. 1, at angularity simulatingnatural gravity when the spacecraft is in an ambient medium ofdiminished gravity or weightlessness.

Referring to the schematic representation, in FIG. I, of a cabin complexforming part of a spacecraft, space station, transport or other vehicle,which may be circular or of any other shape, the stationary central post1 secured to the base 2 is a'bearing supporting the hub 3 secured torotor 4, and the hub 5 secured to rotor 6.

7 indicates a stationary sheet of plastics or other material adapted toradiate electrostatic energy when frictionally excited by the pads 8secured to the rotor 4.

The sheet 7 is a floor of a spacecraft cabin, supported at its peripheryby multiple insulating posts 9, and at the center thereof by anextension 10 of post 1. A continuous circumferential structure may besubstituted for the multiple posts 9 as is well-known to those skilledin the art.

The pads 8 secured to the underside of rotor 6 are adapted tofrictionally excite the stationary plastics or equivalent sheet 11 forgenerating clouds of electrons that are absorbed by the stationaryelectrically-conductive element such as the sheet 12 or equivalent. Bothelements 11 and 12 are supported by the insulating posts 9 orequivalents, and are separated from one another as shown.

Upon the energization of the electric motor 13 from a source of electriccurrent, the pulley or gear thereof, indicated by 14, simultaneouslyengages and rotates the rotors 4 and 6 in opposite directions, whereuponthe frictional excitation of the underside of floor 7 by the pads 8causes the topside thereof to radiate electrostatic clouds of electronswhich function as artificial gravity by attracting objects thereto insimulation of natural gravity; and the concurrent frictional excitationof element 11 by the other pads 8 secured to rotor 6 generates clouds ofelectrons that are absorbed by the electrically-conductive element 12for channeling to useful purposes; and the oppositely-tumed rotors 4 and6 also perform the additional very important function of cancelling thetorque reaction of the co-axial rotors.

15 indicates the ceiling of the cabin, supported by thecircumferentially-continuous wall 16 mounted on the posts 9 orequivalent circumferentially-continuous structure. 17 and 18 representcompartments for containing equipment, instrumentation, and/or supplies.

The schematic representation in FIG. 3 comprises a base 19 of insulatingmaterial and an electrostatically-attractable element 20, such as ofsheet aluminum or equivalent, partly secured thereto and having aportion thereof spaced from the base 19. This parallel structure ofdifferent materials is adapted to be fastened to the footwear, clothing,and implements of astronauts traversing the floor 7 of a spacecraftcabin whereby the electrostatic energy radiating from the floor 7 willpull and attract one side of the element 20 thereto, thus providingartificial gravitational pull on the astronauts similar to naturalgravity, part of the other side of the element 20 being spaced from thebase 19. I have also obtained satisfactory experimental results when theelement 20 was of aluminized fiberboard.

It will be noted, in FIG. 1, that one side of the stationary sheet 7 isthe floor radiating electrostatic energy into the cabin, whichpresumably is pressurized with life-supporting air or oxygen, while theunderside thereof is the source for generating the electrostatic energy;and it will be understood that the belt of a Van de Graaff electrostaticgenerator may be used as an equivalent for energizing the sheet 7.

21 indicates an electrically-conductive element supported by aninsulating element secured to the wall of compartment 17, as shown inFIG. 1, but may be positioned over any portion of theelectrostatically-radiating floor 7 and separated therefrom like element12 is separated from element 11. Upon the energization of element 7 bythe pads 8, the resulting electrostatic current will be absorbed byelement 21 and may be used to light a fluorescent lamp in circuittherewith and with a slip-ring contact from the rotating pads 8, as Ihave determined experimentally.

It will also be noted that while the cabin is pressurized withlife-supporting aeriform gas, the near-vacuum medium surrounding aspacecraft in outer space is beneficial for the operation of thegenerators in the compartment at the underside of sheet 7.

Co-polymer plastics may be used in the construction of the cabincomplex. Such plastics can be reenforced with glass fibers and cloth andformed into structural members. Copolymers are also suitable asadhesives for bonding to metals.

Although only certain embodiments of my invention have been illustratedand described herein as examples, it is understood that changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

I claim:

l. The method of creating artificial gravity in a spacecraft traversingspace in an ambient medium of diminished gravity, which consists infrictionally exciting the underside of a floor in a spacecraft toradiate electrostatic energy from the topside thereof, and placing anelectrostatically-attractable element adjacent thereto whereby one sidethereof will be attracted to the said topside of the floor.

2. In a spacecraft adapted to traverse outer space in an ambient mediumof diminished gravity, a stationary floor, a first rotor at theunderside of the floor adapted to radiate electrostatic energy from thetopside thereof to provide artificial gravity by attracting the footwearand other equipment of astronauts, and a second oppositely-turning rotoradapted to cooperate with the first rotor to counter torque reaction.

3. Means for creating artificial gravity in an ambient medium ofdiminished gravity comprising a base adapted to be fastened to thefootwear and equipment of astronauts, an electrostatically-attractiveplaniform element secured to the base, a sheet adapted to produceelectrostatic energy in response to frictional excitation, a firstsurface of the sheet adapted to attract the saidelectrostatically-attractive planiform element, and frictional meansassociated with the opposite surface of the sheet adapted to generatethe electrostatic energy whereby the said first surface will radiate theelectrostatic energy and attract the planiform element thereto.

4. Means for creating artificial gravity in an ambient medium ofdiminished natural gravity, comprising an electrostatically-attractableelement forming part of a fabricated article adapted to be fastened tothe footwear and equipment of astronauts, one side of the saidelectrostatically-attractable element adapted to be attracted by oneside of an electrostatically-charged sheet, the other side of the saidelement being partly integral with the fabricated article, and means forelectrostatically charging the other side of the said sheet whereby thesaid one side of the sheet will attract the said one side of the elementto provide artificial gravitational attraction.

5. In a spacecraft adapted to travel in a near-vacuum in space, anenclosure having a ceiling and a floor and adapted to be pressurizedtherein with life-supporting aeriform gas, an electrostatic generator atthe underside of the floor adapted to be exposed to the near-vacuummedium for the beneficial operation thereof, and means for actuating theelectrostatic generator whereby the energy generated thereby willradiate from the topside of the floor within the enclosure and attractobjects thereto in simulation of natural gravity.

6. In a spacecraft adapted to travel in a medium of diminished naturalgravity, the combination and interrelation of a stationary floor, abearing at the underside of the floor supporting a rotor part of anelectrostatic generator, the said rotor being positioned substantiallyparallel to the stationary floor, and means associated with the rotoradapted to excite the underside of the stationary floor whereby thetopside thereof will radiate electrostatic energy to attract objectsthereto in simulation of natural gravity.

1. The method of creating artificial gravity in a spacecraft traversingspace in an ambient medium of diminished gravity, which consists infrictionally exciting the underside of a floor in a spacecraft toradiate electrostatic energy from the topside thereof, and placing anelectrostatically-attractable element adjacent thereto whereby one sidethereof will be attracted to the said topside of the floor.
 2. In aspacecraft adapted to traverse outer space in an ambient medium ofdiminished gravity, a stationary floor, a first rotor at the undersideof the floor adapted to radiate electrostatic energy from the topsidethereof to provide artificial gravity by attracting the footwear andother equipment of astronauts, and a second oppositely-turning rotoradapted to cooperate with the first rotor to counter torque reaction. 3.Means for creating artificial gravity in an ambient medium of diminishedgravity comprising a base adapted to be fastened to the footwear andequipment of astronauts, an electrostatically-attractive planiformelement secured to the base, a sheet adapted to produce electrostaticenergy in response to frictional excitation, a first surface of thesheet adapted to attract the said electrostatically-attractive planiformelement, and frictional means associated with the opposite surface ofthe sheet adapted to generate the electrostatic energy whereby the saidfirst surface will radiate the electrostatic energy and attract theplaniform element thereto.
 4. Means for creating artificial gravity inan ambient medium of diminished natural gRavity, comprising anelectrostatically-attractable element forming part of a fabricatedarticle adapted to be fastened to the footwear and equipment ofastronauts, one side of the said electrostatically-attractable elementadapted to be attracted by one side of an electrostatically-chargedsheet, the other side of the said element being partly integral with thefabricated article, and means for electrostatically charging the otherside of the said sheet whereby the said one side of the sheet willattract the said one side of the element to provide artificialgravitational attraction.
 5. In a spacecraft adapted to travel in anear-vacuum in space, an enclosure having a ceiling and a floor andadapted to be pressurized therein with life-supporting aeriform gas, anelectrostatic generator at the underside of the floor adapted to beexposed to the near-vacuum medium for the beneficial operation thereof,and means for actuating the electrostatic generator whereby the energygenerated thereby will radiate from the topside of the floor within theenclosure and attract objects thereto in simulation of natural gravity.6. In a spacecraft adapted to travel in a medium of diminished naturalgravity, the combination and interrelation of a stationary floor, abearing at the underside of the floor supporting a rotor part of anelectrostatic generator, the said rotor being positioned substantiallyparallel to the stationary floor, and means associated with the rotoradapted to excite the underside of the stationary floor whereby thetopside thereof will radiate electrostatic energy to attract objectsthereto in simulation of natural gravity.